Congratulations! You made it! You survived and excelled in your student teaching. You are now a science teacher! If you would, take a few minutes to share your wisdom about how to negotiate this difficult year with the students who are following in your footsteps by answering the following questions.
a. What are some things students should do in their fall practicum to make their student teaching go more smoothly?
Get to know your students- especially their names! It'll make teaching them so much easier and makes them feel special and shows you care.
Get to know the school, staff and faculty. You really don't want to walk around the building asking students where you are, and it helps to plan lessons if you talk with other teachers and staff members-how your students will work, where you can get resources, etc.
Find out what you're teaching- it's better to know what you're doing in the fall rather than the day before you go into your student teaching. You can plan and start gathering materials and lesson ideas from peers and other teachers.
b. What 430 topics/assignments should students make sure are addressed in detail to prepare them for student teaching?
UNIT PLAN! The more details you put into your unit plan, the easier your life will be. It may seem like a huge pain at the time, but when spring comes, you'll have some worksheets to use, and test materials. Even if you don't end up teaching your unit, you'll have the lesson plans for the future.
Inquiry- it's really important to learn what inquiry is and how you can include it in your lessons.
c. Help the next group of science education student teachers by completing the thought: "If I knew in September what I know now, I could have been better prepared for student teaching if I had ...."
...in the middle school: learned more about the students' interests so I could apply their interests with my lessons.
...in the high school: met more of the staff and learned the layout of the school so I would not feel so awkward sometimes asking for help with my lessons.
d. Are there other words of wisdom/encouragement that you want to share?
Have fun, don't stress, breathe! At times you'll feel super overwhelmed, but just remember that you have the skill set to be the teacher in the classroom. You are the one in charge, you're the one with all the knowledge and resources, and you are the one who is in charge of showing students how great science is. Enjoy your time in the fall because when spring comes, you will be a teacher 24/5 (save the weekends for yourself) :D Good Luck!
a. What are some things students should do in their fall practicum to make their student teaching go more smoothly?
b. What 430 topics/assignments should students make sure are addressed in detail to prepare them for student teaching?
c. Help the next group of science education student teachers by completing the thought: "If I knew in September what I know now, I could have been better prepared for student teaching if I had ...."
...in the middle school: learned more about the students' interests so I could apply their interests with my lessons.
...in the high school: met more of the staff and learned the layout of the school so I would not feel so awkward sometimes asking for help with my lessons.
d. Are there other words of wisdom/encouragement that you want to share?
Have fun, don't stress, breathe! At times you'll feel super overwhelmed, but just remember that you have the skill set to be the teacher in the classroom. You are the one in charge, you're the one with all the knowledge and resources, and you are the one who is in charge of showing students how great science is. Enjoy your time in the fall because when spring comes, you will be a teacher 24/5 (save the weekends for yourself) :D Good Luck!